Improvement in machine-guns



M. WOOD,

Improvement in Machine-Guns.

Patented July 30, 1872.

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MARSHALL WOOD, or LEWISBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIcN'oH TO Hllil} SELF AND THOMAS MATHEWS, or SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINE-GUNS.

PATENT OFFIoE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,098, dated July 30, 1872.

Specification describing a Many-Barreled Fire-Arm, invented by MARSHALL Woon, of Lewisburg, in the county of Greenbrier and State of West Virginia.

The invention consists in several improvements in battery guns or rifles, as follows: First, in combining the Well-known toggle, for reciprocating the breech-bolt, with the hand mechanism hereinafter described, for operating it. Second, in combining a series of cartridgecarriers with the several barrels so that they will feed all the barrels simultaneously. Third, in a peculiar construction of cartridgecarrier with a zigzag chamber, which is made to feed bya vibratory movement thereof. Fourth, in operating a series of connected cartridge-carriers by means of rods and camslotted levers.

Figure l is a top view. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through lineman. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the cartridge-box connected to the operating-levers.

A represents the stock of each barrel, B the barrels, O the closing breech-bolt, and D the bolt-receiver. E E are two links, pivoted at one end to bolt 0, at the other to a block, G, and in the middle to each other and to a link, H, thereby forming a toggle connection. I is a lever attached to lower end of link H, pivoted to a block, J, and attached to the jointed arms K L, which are operated by rod-M and lever O. P is the hammer, which strikes a bolt, 0, that is provided with points 'of ignition. These points penetrate a copper cartridge in barrel. S is a pawl provided with a,

spring, T, to maintain the hammer in position when thrown back. U is -a frame, to which is pivoted a series of cartridge-carriers, V, one for each barrel. a a are rods which connect the several cartridge-carriers together, and e c cam-slotted levers attached to these rods,

while to is a rod which is moved up and down in said cam-slots to vibrate said levers. Each cartridge-carrier is provided with zigzag and inclined guide-channels c. To the back of this carrier may be pivoted a discharge-sweep, which is larger one way than the other and is supplied with a spring on the back edge of cartridge-box This is for the'purpose of throwing out the cartridge which has been previously drawn out of barrel by a springhook that plays in the breech-bolt groove. Under each cartridge-box is a small incline, which receives cartridge and conveys it to its proper position in breech when the bolt moves back. Under the cartridge-box is also a cutofi, which excludes all cartridges, except the one in conveyer, and keeps them back until bolt moves again, when it deposits another. It will be perceived that I have pivoted on the same rod eight guns, whose ends are secured by screw-caps w 20. Y is a shield covering the barrels of the guns, and polished so as to prevent the enemy from drawing a sight upon them. It is apertured to receive the end of barrels. Z is a turn-table for lateral adj ustment of the range, while the guns are raised or depressed by means of a swivel-screw, h. By raising lever O the breech -bolt 0 is drawn back, the breeches of all the barrels opened, each piece cooked, and a cartridge deposited in each breech. On the other hand, by depressing lever 0 each pin 0 drives home its cartridge and then discharges simultaneously each of the guns. These guns will cover eight or ten feet and dismount those of the enemy, cut down double files of soldiers, or destroy a cavalry charge, since each barrel can throw Sixty balls per minute. The barrels are intended to be incased in metal tubes, full of water or acid. All the carriers being filled with cartridges placed transversely thereacross, and provided with a dischargesweep, they are shaken by the vibratory bars so as first to throw 0d the spent cartridge and then drop a fresh one. This is efi'ected bya single vibration or movement back and for-v ward when the bolts drive the said cartridges home into their respective barrels.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters 'Patent, is-

1. The combination, with toggle E E, of the mechanism H I K L M O, as described, so as to enable the gunner to reciprocate the breech-bolt O by hand, as described.

2. A series of barrels, B, bolts G, and boltreceivers D, arranged with respect to stock A as described, in combination, as set forth, with a series of vibratory carriers that drop simul taneously a cartridge between each bolt and barrel.

cartridges transversely and allow them to be slvaken out one by one as described.

4E. The rod w and cam-slotted levers-e a combined with carrier-rods a a, as described, so as to vibrate all the carriers at the same time.

MARSHALL WOOD.

Witnesses: SOLON G. KEMON, TI-Ios. D. D. OURAND. 

